Tag: dailyprompt-1942

Work-Life Balance After Work: Still a Full-Time Job

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Daily writing prompt
How do you balance work and home life?
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DAILY PROMPT RESPONSE

I’m retired now, so technically, no “work” is left on paper. But here’s the joke—retirement doesn’t come with an off-switch. When you’ve spent 40+ years measuring your worth by how much you get done in a day, doing nothing feels like failure.

So, I make up stuff to do. I vacuum a floor that isn’t dirty. I alphabetize the spice rack. I create little “missions” like I’m starring in my own low-budget spy movie: Operation Replace All the Batteries. Because if I don’t stay moving, this little voice kicks in—What are you contributing right now?

But of course, the minute I do too much, someone tells me, “Slow down, enjoy life!” And if I listen—if I let myself rest, enjoy a book, or take a guilt-free nap—that same someone will say, “You should keep active! Don’t let yourself go soft!”

It’s like playing ping pong with your expectations and everyone else’s. Do too much, you’re overdoing it. Do too little, and you’re wasting your golden years.

So, how do I balance it? Honestly? I stopped trying to win. I chase what makes the day feel good. Sometimes that means knocking out a list of things no one asked for. Other times, it means sitting outside with a cold drink and ignoring the itch to be productive. The trick is learning to be okay with both, and shutting up that voice in your head that says you have to earn every moment of rest.

Diary of a Workaholic (Take 1)

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How do you balance work and home life?

I come from a time when workaholics ruled. This isn’t spoken from a place of pride but rather a place where, thinking back, I wish I would have made better decisions about the use of my time. There are events I missed out on. Moments I can’t get back. Though I wish I could, but it doesn’t work that way, does it?

One minute, my daughters are playing with dolls, and next, I’m staring into the face of some goofy-looking chucklehead. Who has the sand to mumble something like

“Nice to meet you, Sir. I’m”

I never seem to catch their names. The wife swore it was because I’m a certified asshole when it came to my daughters. When she first said it, I felt wounded. I’m not an asshole; I’m a dick, asshole, no. One day explained this to her for clarity. Her response,

“Yep, you’re a dick, alright.”

I sighed, feeling vindicated. Then she went into a rant as she walked about something I can’t remember. I read somewhere this happens to people who suffer traumatic events. However, I do remember feeling maybe I should have let that one go, and from that point, asshole was just fine.

I was gone a lot for work, then one day, I became Papaw. The oddest thing. Who is this little creature pulling on your finger because their little hands are so small that’s all they can grab ahold of.

Where did the time go? Man, I learned a great deal about life.; its triumphs and pitfalls. I even had an opportunity on occasion to take part in some and prevent some of the others. I’m an old man trying to do his part to make a difference.

So, when it comes to finding the balance? If you figured it out. I mean really got something, don’t say a word until copyrighted and patented. Then, put it up for sale and become an instant millionaire.

Oh yeah, post your links, so I can get my Pre-order in.

~thank you for reading~